Wing clipping
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Wing clipping is the process of trimming a bird's primary flight feathers ("primaries") so that he or she is no longer fully-flighted.
Wing clipping is controversial amongst many people who care for captive birds. Some of the arguments against wing clipping are:
- Birds in the wild often fly many miles a day and expend a tremendous amount of energy in doing so. Pet birds get less exercise than their wild ancestors, and when their wings are clipped, they get even less. Because evolution has adapted them for an active lifestyle, a sedentary lifestyle, in birds as in humans, leads to health problems.
- It is important to a bird's sense of well-being that she can escape from predators. A bird who cannot fly cannot escape most predators. Wing-clipped birds are often insecure, even psychologically damaged, by their flightless condition. One need only get to know clipped and unclipped birds to see the striking difference in confidence between the two.
The argument is often made by advocates of wing-clipping that wing-clipped birds are less likely to fly out an open door or window, or into mirrors or ceiling fans. However it is an inappropriate assumption that clipped birds are less likely to get into accidents around the home than are flighted birds, even if they aren't supervised; they are prone to other dangers, such as being stepped on, or eaten by a dog or cat etc. However, a wing-clipped bird under supervision is far safer than a flighted bird under supervision. Therefore it should be taken into account that it is the responsibility of the pet owner to make sure his or her home is safe for all pets. Bird owners should close doors and windows, turn ceiling fans off, and supervise when a bird is in the room.
Another common argument in favor of wing-clipping is that it helps birds bond with their owners. This is in many ways true, because the wing-clipped bird must rely on the owner to protect him; in this way it is a co-dependent relationship. Another perspective of someone who is in favor of wing-clipping is that as the proper clip only trims feathers and not the wings themselves, it does not cause the bird physical harm. Since the feathers do not have nerve endings, the bird does not feel pain. Therefore, wing clipping is similar to a person having their nails clipped or their hair cut.
An appropriate wing clip will allow a bird to glide across the room without gaining altitude and gently flutter to the ground when dropped from a short height. If too few primaries are taken, the bird will be able to gain altitude; if too many primaries are taken, the bird will plummet like a rock. Those experienced with wing clipping will only take one or two feathers from each side at a time and see how well the bird can fly before taking more feathers, to avoid causing the bird to plummet and potentially be injured in doing so.
Many people who keep birds as pets prefer to clip their wings so that their birds will not crash into mirrors, walls, or windows, all of which are serious hazards to flighted birds; a hard crash can result in injury. Another reason for clipping wings is to keep pet birds that are social in nature (such as parrots) more tame. When birds are unclipped, they typically have a greater sense of independence and can be less likely to socialize with their owners.
When a bird's wings are clipped, an equal number of feathers are taken from each wing. If feathers are clipped from only one wing the bird will lose balance and won't be able to flutter properly to the ground (possibly resulting in injury). To keep a bird from being fully-flighted, wing clipping must be done after every moult, but it is important to only clip the wings when the feathers have finished growing and there is no blood in them. Many people clip their birds' wings themselves, although it is a good idea to have an avian veterinarian, pet store employee, or breeder demonstrate the process first before one does it themselves. Wing-clipping of pet birds is also endorsed by most avian veterinarians.
